weregild (Meaning)

Webster

weregild (n.)

The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer.

Synonyms & Antonyms of weregild

No Synonyms and anytonyms found

weregild Sentence Examples

  1. In Anglo-Saxon society, weregild was the monetary value placed on a person's life, used as compensation for their death.
  2. The amount of weregild varied depending on the victim's social status and the circumstances of their death.
  3. If a nobleman was murdered, his family was entitled to a substantial weregild from the killer.
  4. Conversely, the weregild for a slave or a woman was significantly lower.
  5. Weregild could be paid in livestock, precious metals, or other valuables.
  6. It was believed that the payment of weregild restored social harmony and prevented blood feuds.
  7. The concept of weregild influenced later legal systems, including the Norman Conquest's system of fines for crimes.
  8. The historical records of weregild provide insights into the social and legal values of early medieval societies.
  9. In some cases, weregild could be used to ransom a captive back from their captors.
  10. The payment of weregild was an important aspect of Anglo-Saxon justice and played a significant role in maintaining social order.

FAQs About the word weregild

The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the

No synonyms found.

No antonyms found.

In Anglo-Saxon society, weregild was the monetary value placed on a person's life, used as compensation for their death.

The amount of weregild varied depending on the victim's social status and the circumstances of their death.

If a nobleman was murdered, his family was entitled to a substantial weregild from the killer.

Conversely, the weregild for a slave or a woman was significantly lower.